The Archers highlights the toughest of decisions

With The Archers recently covering the topic of putting a horse to sleep, which we know can be an extremely difficult time for any horse owner, we wanted to emphasise that our Advice Line is available on +44 (0)1953 497238 in office hours for anyone struggling with making this tough decision.

“Making the decision to have a horse put to sleep is a very tough one, and it can be surprisingly difficult to discuss it with friends and family,” says Fran Windle, UK Support Officer. “Often, those around you are almost as attached to your horse as you are, so you may not get objective responses from them. Discussing the situation with someone completely independent can be really helpful – and please know that if you call us, you’ll be talking to people who absolutely understand how tough this is. We know that equine end of life – and decisions around it – is a hugely difficult time for owners and I’d like to emphasise that it’s absolutely OK to struggle with this.”

We also have some useful materials available for owners who are thinking about making a plan in advance – something most owners will need, as very few horses pass away from natural causes. Our ‘Just In Case’ materials provide owners with the facts about the options available, including exactly what happens with each method, as well as a plan that they can use to record their wishes in case an emergency situation arises with their horse when they’re not around.

As the recent episode of The Archers touched on, we know that the concept of putting a horse to sleep with a bullet can be a very difficult thought for some people. “This is something I come across all the time in conversations with owners,” says Deputy Chief Field Officer Jon Phipps. “However, it’s a perfectly humane method and for some horses it’s much better than injection, if they’re needle-shy, for instance, or simply find vet visits very stressful. It’s also instant – with the fallen stock collectors I work with, the horse usually has a bucket of food to focus on at the time and will know absolutely nothing about it.”

Putting a horse to sleep with a bullet is also considerably cheaper in most cases because the medication used to put a horse to sleep by injection is so expensive. For many owners, the use of a bullet is the only financially viable option. If your horse’s quality of life has deteriorated to the point at which euthanasia is the only humane outcome, remember that both methods of euthanasia are equally humane options.

Whichever method they choose, owners may worry that their horse is aware of what’s about to happen to them, but this isn’t the case. “Your horse doesn’t know what’s coming when they’re put to sleep. They learn by experience and have no previous experience of euthanasia, so please don’t feel guilty thinking that they know what’s about to happen,” adds Fran.

“Deciding whether or not to be there with your horse at the end is such a personal decision with no right or wrong answer – it’s absolutely fine to ask an experienced friend to be there in your place if they’re comfortable to do so, or alternatively you can ask whoever carries out the euthanasia if they can bring someone with them to hold your horse. Remember that your horse will have no idea what is happening so the important thing is for anyone directly involved to act calmly and avoid giving them any cues which might cause stress. For many owners, it’s understandably difficult to keep emotions under control, so saying goodbye quietly and calmly beforehand and then leaving someone they trust to hold the lead rope is often the best option.“

If you’re struggling to make an end-of-life decision for your horse, that’s completely understandable and there are lots of resources available to you, including pet loss support lines, which you can find via our our Equine End of Life page.

In the event that you have to have a horse put to sleep suddenly and end up with one horse left on their own and not coping, we can help you find your horse a suitable new companion as soon as possible. Please call our Advice Line on +44 (0)1953 497238 if you find yourself in this situation.

Related resources

• You can find our advice page on equine end of life here.
• Blog: ‘Equine end of life: a decision most horse owners dread, but how do you prepare for it?’
• Webinar: ‘Planning for equine end of life – and how to cope with it’
• The Equine End of Life website also contains lots of useful links and resources.